Thursday, June 1, 2017

Last ,But Not Least

Getting last-mile deliveries right is a continuing challenge for shippers.

Supply
chains extend for thousands of miles, with multiple modes of transport, be it
ocean, air, rail, long-haul trucking, or some combination. But no mile along
the products’ odyssey has been more costly, and caused merchants more issues,
than the last mile.

Goods may
flow seamlessly from overseas factory to stateside distribution center, but if
the delivery to the final consignee goes wrong, the customer is left with a bad
taste in their mouth and for the supplier, repeat orders may be jeopardized.
Carriers delivering to the final mile must deal with high levels of
unpredictability, particularly with B2C shipments, with constantly changing
delivery addresses, customers not available, package theft, and city traffic
fighting against ever-rising consumer expectations of fast, free delivery in
all cases.

Parcel
carriers claim to have all the answers, but they naturally shoehorn all
shipments into their own networks. A company such as UPS brings a lot to
the table, but it’s a fair bet their delivery solutions are going to
feature…UPS.

There are innovative
options available to ensure reliable last-mile delivery at the most affordable
rates. FedEx, DHL and the US Postal Service offer programs to boost
efficiency and save money. Brown and Purple offer incentives for buyers to pick
up their packages at a designated drop-off point, transferring a portion of
last mile costs to the consumer. DHL has an extensive footprint of warehouse
space nationwide. And if you’ve ever gotten a Sunday delivery from the mailman,
you know the Postal Service is evolving as well.

So what’s
your best option? Working with an independent logistics expert, schooled in all
the nuances of B2B and B2C delivery, gives your company the best crack at
cracking the final-mile puzzle, and getting deliveries right at last.

About TOTALogistix

TOTALogistix is a privately held corporation headquartered in Sparta, NJ. We helped define the Third Party Logistics Industry in 1991. Today we provide a wide spectrum of transportation and related supply chain management services to manufacturers, retailers and distributors throughout North America.
In our 20+ years in business, we’ve saved money for nine out of ten companies whose transportation we’ve analyzed. We’re confident we can do the same for you. Improving logistics performance starts here.